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arXiv:2606.01121

On Jean-Marie Souriau's geometric quantization of the relativistic electron

Géry de Saxcé

math-phquant-phSubmitted May 31, 2026• Announced Jun 2, 2026
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to revisit, in Souriau's book "Structure of Dynamical Systems", the chapter devoted to the geometric quantization where the justifications of important results and formulae are not given and are difficult to prove. After recalling the coadjoint orbit method and its application to the relativistic particle with spin, we state and prove two keystone theorems that allow to equip its prequantum manifold with the symplectic and contact structures. We apply them to the relativistic particle with spin 1/2, leading to the Dirac equation and the conservation of the probability current. We propose also an identity of conservation of the spin current and, invoking the Kaluza-Klein theory, a systematic construction of the symmetries of charge conjugation, parity transformation and time reversal which seems to us more convenient and readable than that of the classical presentations.

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36 pages

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The aim of this paper is to revisit, in Souriau's book "Structure of Dynamical Systems", the chapter devoted to the geometric quantization where the justifications of important results and formulae are not given and are difficult to prove. After recalling the coadjoint orbit method and its application to the relativistic particle with spin, we state and prove two keystone theorems that allow to equip its prequantum manifold with the symplectic and contact structures. We apply them to the relativistic particle with spin 1/2, leading to the Dirac equation and the conservation of the probability current. We propose also an identity of conservation of the spin current and, invoking the Kaluza-Klein theory, a systematic construction of the symmetries of charge conjugation, parity transformation and time reversal which seems to us more convenient and readable than that of the classical presentations.
We study the relation of the spin-statistics theorem to the geometric structures on phase space, which are introduced in quantization procedures (namely a U(1) bundle and connection). The relation can be proved in both the relativistic and the nonrelativistic domain (in fact for any symmetry group including internal symmetries) by requiring that the exchange can be implemented smoothly by a class of symmetry transformations that project in the phase space of the joint system system. We discuss the interpretation of this requirement, stressing the fact that any distinction of identical particles comes solely from the choice of coordinates — the exchange then arises from suitable change of coordinate system. We then examine our construction in the geometric and the coherent-state-path-integral quantization schemes. In the appendix we apply our results to exotic systems exhibiting continuous "spin" and "fractional statistics." This gives novel and unusual forms of the spin-statistics relation.
Geometric quantization is an attempt at using the differential-geometric ingredients of classical phase spaces regarded as symplectic manifolds in order to define a corresponding quantum theory. Generally, the process of geometric quantization is applicable to other symplectic manifolds, not only cotangent spaces. The resulting formalism provides a way of looking at quantum theory that is distinct from conventional approaches to the subject, e.g., the Dirac bra-ket formalism. In particular, such familiar features as the quantization of spin, the canonical quantization of position and momentum, and the Schrödinger equation all emerge from geometric quantization. This paper serves as a review of the subject written in an informal style, often taking an example-based approach to exposition, and attempts to present the material without assuming the reader is an expert in differential geometry.
Geometric quantization is an attempt at using the differential-geometric ingredients of classical phase spaces regarded as symplectic manifolds in order to define a corresponding quantum theory. Generally, the process of geometric quantization is applicable to other symplectic manifolds, not only cotangent spaces. The resulting formalism provides a way of looking at quantum theory that is distinct from conventional approaches to the subject, e.g., the Dirac bra-ket formalism. In particular, such familiar features as the quantization of spin, the canonical quantization of position and momentum, and the Schr\{o}dinger equation all emerge from geometric quantization. This paper serves as a review of the subject written in an informal style, often taking an example-based approach to exposition, and attempts to present the material without assuming the reader is an expert in differential geometry.
The chapter covers some of the essential aspects of relativistic quantum mechanics. The Klein-Gordon equation and its solution in coulombic fields, how to interpret probability density and probability current derived from the Klein-Gordon equation, derivation of the Dirac equation and its covariant form, probability density and probability current for Dirac equation, positive and negative energy eigenvalues in the case of a free particle, constants of motion for relativistic treatment, presence of spin magnetic moment and spin-orbit interaction energy in the Dirac equation, and the solution of the Dirac equation for central potentials and for the hydrogen atom are presented with elegant mathematical treatment and physical interpretations. A modern and reader friendly approach is adopted for derivation of the Dirac equation, constants of motion, and for the solution of the Dirac equation for central potentials. Solved examples and unsolved exercises relating to fundamental concepts of relativistic quantum mechanics are added towards the end of chapter.
The diffculties of relativistic particle theories formulated my means of canonical quantization, such as Klein-Gordon and Dirac theories, ultimately led theoretical physicists to turn on quantum field theory to model elementary particle physics. The aim of the present work is to pursue a method alternative to canonical quantization that avoids these dfficulties. In order to guarantee this result, the present approach is constrained to be developed deductively from physical principles. The physical principles assumed for a free particle consist of the symmetry properties of the particle with respect to the Poincaré group and of the transformation properties of the position observable, expressed by means of a suitably conceived notion of quantum transformation. In so doing, the effectiveness of group theoretical methods is exploited. Our work has pointed out the necessity of new classes of irreducible representations of the Poincaré group the theory can be based on. For spin 0 particle, four inequivalent theories are completely determined, that differ from Klein-Gordon theory for the physical interpretation but also for the mathematical structures. In particular, two of these theories requires irreducible representations in the new classes. The present lack of the explicit transformation properties of position with respect to boosts forbids the complete determination of non zero spin particle theories. A particular form of these transformation properties was in past adopted by Jordan and Mukunda. We check its consistency within the present approach; it is found that for spin 1/2 particles there is only one consistent theory; it is unitarily related to Dirac theory, but, once again, it requires the new classes of irreducible representations.